Moot Court competition packs courtroom

UF Law students Andrew Labbe, Leigh Anne Siddle, Monica Haddad and Jordan Peterson (supported by alternate Daniel Lazaro) argued before a panel of federal and state judges Sept. 10 in the 25th Annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Moot Court Final Four Competition. The bench featured a distinguished panel of state and federal judges: The Honorable Jacqueline R. Griffin, Fifth District Court of Appeal; The Honorable Robert Hinkle, Northern District of Florida; The Honorable William Terrell Hodges, Middle District of Florida; The Honorable Paul C. Huck, Southern District of Florida; and The Honorable Steven D. Merryday, Middle District of Florida.

The oralists argued a civil rights case involving Fourth Amendment issues concerning an unlawful search and seizure of files on a student’s personal laptop, the student’s removal from the school newspaper staff and censorship of her articles in violation of her First Amendment right to free speech before the judicial panel and a standing-room-only audience in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center.

The students were not the only ones exited about the competition. “I like to judge these events because the quality and enthusiasm of the students blows me away,” Judge Jacqueline Griffin said. “I find it invigorating.”

While all competitors made outstanding and persuasive arguments, the Respondents, Monica Haddad and Jordan Peterson, prevailed, winning the Best Team award. Jordan Peterson won Best Overall, Monica Haddad won Best Oralist, and Aaron Wasserstrom won Best Brief.